Gallatin Board of Aldermen work on budget for 2017

The Gallatin Board of Aldermen this week continued work on the city budget for next year.

The electric department budget is to include the purchase of a new bucket truck with grant money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to be included.

The board discussed increasing the electric service charge from the current $10 to $11.50. Electric rates at Gallatin have not been increased since September of 2013.

The largest expense in the water department is $5,200,000 for a new water plant.

The largest increase in the sewer department budget is for capital equipment at $75,000 which is to be used to replace two blowers at the sewer plant. The $75,000 blower expense is to be paid from the sewer savings account.